Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has launched a new official website as part of its efforts to build a rapport with the public through proactive information sharing policies.
Apart from tender-related documents, a monthly project status report will be put up on www.chennaimetrorail.gov.in. The Detailed Project Report of Phase-I of the project is also likely to be made available online by June, once work on the underground section commences.
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CMRL Managing Director K. Rajaraman said that the virtual presence of many transit systems across the world has been studied and the site would be constantly updated with new information. “The detailed traffic management plan, which will be implemented to facilitate tunnelling work for the underground section, will be available online once it is approved by the traffic police.”
While initially, information on all construction activities that have public relevance will be uploaded, CMRL is also simultaneously working on various features that will be required during the operational phase – a trip planner, train operation schedule, location of parking lots near Metro stations, etc.
The preliminary operational trial, deploying nine Metro trains, is slated to commence on the 11-km Koyambedu-Ashok Nagar-St. Thomas Mount stretch by December, 2013.
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A senior official of CMRL said that information will be proactively shared and efforts would be made to build public confidence on issues ranging from traffic delays due to the project work, use of parks for the construction activities and the impact on tree cover.
The construction of the two Metro Rail corridors in Phase I, totalling 45-km in length, was inaugurated in June 2009. The first corridor will run between Washermenpet and the airport through Anna Salai. The second corridor is between Chennai Central and St. Thomas Mount and it would predominantly pass through Poonamallee High Road and Jawaharlal Nehru Salai.